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by thegiogi 927 days ago
> A good example of this at the human level is a reflex. Your hand didn't go back to your brain to ask for instructions on how to get away from the fire.

Is this actually true? I thought it just involved a different part of the brain. Is there actually no brain involvement? Sure it does not need your awareness or decision making, but no brain? I find that hard to believe.
1 comments
pixl97 927 days ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflex_arc

Simple answer: No, it does not go to the brain

Detailed answer: We are complex as all hell.

>A reflex arc is a neural pathway that controls a reflex. In vertebrates, most sensory neurons do not pass directly into the brain, but synapse in the spinal cord. This allows for faster reflex actions to occur by activating spinal motor neurons without the delay of routing signals through the brain. The brain will receive the input while the reflex is being carried out and the analysis of the signal takes place after the reflex action.

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TeMPOraL 927 days ago
One way of seeing a subset of reflex behavior is speculative execution - as in, you'll start executing on stimulus before the brain has a chance to evaluate it, but when it eventually does, it may cancel the reflexive action. This is absurdly efficient if your reflexes are well-calibrated.
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